'Nobody like me' in Senate, blue-collar candidate Lynch declares

Stephen Lynch brought his blue-collar message to blue-collar New Bedford Tuesday, promising to bring the voice of working families to the U.S. Senate.

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By STEVE DeCOSTA

southcoasttoday.com

By STEVE DeCOSTA

Posted Feb. 20, 2013 at 12:01 AM

By STEVE DeCOSTA
Posted Feb. 20, 2013 at 12:01 AM

» Social News

Stephen Lynch brought his blue-collar message to blue-collar New Bedford Tuesday, promising to bring the voice of working families to the U.S. Senate.

"I am like them," the former ironworker said during a visit to The Standard-Times while on a swing through SouthCoast. "And when I go to the United States Senate, they go to the United States Senate. That is my message."

The South Boston Democrat is in an uphill battle against fellow Congressman Ed Markey in a special election battle to succeed former Sen. John Kerry, who resigned last month to become Secretary of State. Party primaries are scheduled for April 30, with the final election on June 25.

Lynch, a decided underdog when he ascended first to the state House of Representatives, then to the state Senate and finally to Congress, ticked off his working class credentials.

"I grew up in the housing projects," he said. "I worked 18 years as an ironworker, strapped on a pair of work boots. I was a welder down at the Quincy Shipyard. I worked as an ironworker at the GM plant in Framingham. When GM closed that plant down I saw the effect it had on Framingham and Natick. I know what it's like to stand on the unemployment line.

"There's nobody like me down in Washington. There's nobody like me in the United States Senate. I think it would be a good thing if we could have someone with a blue-collar perspective stand on the floor of the United States Senate and be a voice for regular working families."

Lynch is battling the Massachusetts Democratic establishment that tried to "clear the field" for the more liberal Markey, who has receive the endorsements of many party regulars, including retired Congressman Barney Frank.

"Had I not got in, it would have been a selection, not an election," Lynch said.

Often described as the most conservative member of the state's congressional delegation, "I don't think I have to be liberal enough," he said. "I have to be able to connect with the people I represent."

After explaining his congressional votes against partial-birth abortion, the Iraq war and Obamacare, Lynch was asked how that might play to the liberal Massachusetts electorate. He shrugged and said, "We'll see.

"You do what you think is right," he said. "People give you credit for standing up and saying what you think is right."

The most recent poll in the race, conducted by WBUR and MassINC, showed Markey leading, 36 percent to 31 percent, with the rest undecided. Markey had a much wider lead — 42 to 25 — among registered Democrats, while Lynch was favored by independent voters who said they would participate in the Democratic primary.

Lynch also is at an immediate financial disadvantage. He ended 2012 with $760,206 in his campaign account, compared to more than $3 million for Markey.

With voter turnout expected to be light, "that makes money less important," Lynch said. "If there's only 15 percent of the people coming out, you darned well better get out and meet them."